Pneumatic-despatch-tube apparatus.



G. S. JENNINGS.

PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILHD NOV. 5, 1906.

1,3,141 Patented July 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. S. JENNINGS.

PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 5, 1906.

1,93%,141 Patented July 9, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mfiwasew @XW A C. S. JENNINGS.

PNEUMATIG DESPATGH TUBE APPARATUS.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 Patented July 9, 1912.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 6, 1906.

' controlling the power.

elevation partly in section of the lower part sra'rns PATENT oriuon.

CHESTER S. JENNINGS, OE BOSTON MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO LAMSONCONSOLI- DATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ACORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH-TUBE APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 9, 1912.

power whereby the aircurrent may be re-,

versed for the transmission of carriers through a single transit tube ineither direction. I

Another object is the control of the power whereby carriers upondischarging automatically shut off the power thereby l miting the use ofthe same to the interval necessary for the proper transmission anddelivery of a carrier.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a construction embodyingmy invention, Figure 1 is a diagram of a single tube pneumatic systemembodying my invention and showing electric circuits for Fig. 2 is anenlarged of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the air reversingvalve. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of part of Fig.1. Fig. 5 is a frontelevation partly in section of Fig. 4.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

A and B represent respectively a sub-station and a central stationconnected by a single transmission tube C open to the atmosphere atstation A and controlled by a lock valve B at station B.

C is an air tube communicating with the transit tube C at its lower endat central station B through a casing or elbow B The lower end of theair tube 0 is connected with the pressure and vacuum ports of the blowerD by means of the'branch tubes 1) and D respectively. The blower D isdriven by the motor M through the belt M. The connection of the branchtubes D and D with the air tube 0 is controlled by an air-switchpreferably in the form of the rotary valve E pivoted at E and operatedthrough the crank E and rod E (Fig.

An opening D located at the junction of the tubes D andv D and below theair tube 0 is adapted to be controlled by the valve'E to connect eitherof thetubes D or D with the atmosphere; thus it will be seen that withthe blower in operation and the valve E in the full line position asshown in Fig. 3, the vacuum side of the blower will be in communicationwith the air tube C through the branch tube D while the pressure side ofthe blower will be free to exhaust into the atmosphere through thebranch tube D and opening D. This position of the valve will cause acurrent ofair to flow in the transit tube C from station A to station B.In the reverse or dotted line position of the valve E as shown in Fig.3, a current of air the pressure side of the blower D thence through theair tube C; in the meantime, air will be supplied to the vacuum side ofthe blower through the branch tube D and opening D The position of thisvalve E is controlled by the lock lever B which is connected thereto bymeans of the arm B, the rod E and crank E When a carrier is to bedespatched from station A to station B, the lock lever B is in theposition shown in Fig 4 and the valve E in the fullline position asshown in Fig. 3, while the valve B is held closed by the partial vacuumin the transit tube C until the carrier discharges at station B. If acarrier is to be despatched from station B to station A, the valve Bwill have to be locked in closed position by means of lock lever B onaccount of the pressure within the transit tube 0. This lock lever Bupon being closed'moves the valve E into the dotted line position Fig. 3and the current of air is circulated through the tube 0 from station Bto station A in a manner heretofore described.

Located at station B in close proximity to the valve B is a casing Fcontaining the magnets F which are adapted to operate upon one end of abell crank lever F pivoted at F the other end of the-lever F carrying aprojection or latch F adapted when the magnets F are energized to engagewith and lock the lever B in closed pois adapted to hold the sition.A'spring F- with the lever latch F out of engagement B when the magnetsare deenergized.

operated by a carrier in transit 1n the tube C in the oppositedirection.

1 circuit breaker Mounted in the cabinet H which contains the motor andblower connections (Fig. 2), is a swing switch S adapted to .be operatedby a' magnet the motor M in a manner to be hereinafter described.

In despatching a carrier from station A to station B, the carrier isinserted into the opening in the transit tube at A and the operator thenpresses the button X which energizes' the magnet J and closes theswingswitch S and through contacts W \V closing the circuit through themotor M and line Wires L and L thereby starting the motor, and throughblower D causing a current of air to be drawn through the transit tube Cfrom station A .to station B, and thence through the blower to theatmosphere as heretofore described, causing the carrier to be despatchedfrom station A through the tube C in the direction of station B. Thecircuit through the magnet J with the button X closed is as follows:from the batteries Z through wire Z, button X, contact X, wire X andwire X through circuit breaker G wire X magnet F and wire ,X to magnetJ, thence through wire Z to batteries Z.- In the meantime, the operatorhas released the button X and the motor controlling or swing-switch S isheld closed by means of the insulated bridge piece S engaging contacts Sand S and maintaining the circuit through the magnet J. The circuitclosed by bridge-piece S is now as follows: from the batteries Z throughwire Z, Wire Z circuit breaker G thence through Wire Z to contact Sthrough bridge-piece S, contacts S wire X contact Y, wire X wire Xcircuit breaker G wire X magnet F, wire Xi, magnet J, thence to thebatteries Z through wire Z The carrier in transit in thetube O nowengages the trip Gr (Fig. 4), just previous to delivering through thevalve B causing the G to be thrown upward and momentarily out of contactwith contacts G breaking the circuit between wires X and X, therebydenergizing the magnet J and releasin the swing-switch S' and breakingcontact 2 and S permanently breaking the circuit through the magnet J.In the meantime the switch S has broken the circuit be- J to cut in orout of operationtween contacts W and W and the motor M has sto ped; thecarrier has now discharged throug the valve B at station B;

In despatchinga carrier from station B to station A, the operator opensthe valve B and inserts the carrier into the transit tube C. The locklever B is then closed,the rubber on B thereon engaging with the valve Bolding the same tightly seated on the opening of the transmission tubeG. The button Y is now pushed closing the battery circuit, energizingthemagnet F, and through bell crank lever F, the latch F now engages theprojection B5, on the lock lever B locking the same securely closed. Theswitch magnet 'J now being energized, closes the motor-controllin orswinging switch S, as heretofore described, throwing the motor intooperation. The closing of'the lock lever B through rod E and crank E hasshifted the valve E into the position shown in dotted lines Fig. 3

causing the air current to flow through the transit tube C from stationB to station A and the carrier is despatched toward station A; when thebutton Y is released, the cir- 1 cuit is maintained as heretofore bybridgepiece S closing contacts S and S the circuits being identical withthose heretofore described. The carrier prior to discharging at stationA engages a trip Gr similar to that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, momentarilybreaking the circuit, deenergizing the magnet J and through theswing-switch S stopping the motor M. The battery circuit having beenbroken, the magnet F is deenergized and the latch F, by means of thespring F is thrown back, releasing the lock lever B which allows thevalve E to be returned to the normalposition shown in full lines Fig. 3by means of a spring 13 The carrier has discharged at station A and thevalve E is now in position to permit a carrier to be despatched fromstation A to station B.

Having thus described the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is: I

1. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction provided with an openingfor the discharge and insertion of carriers, a valve controlling saidopening, a pump c'om 120 municating with said tube, a motor for drivingsaid pump, an air-switch in the communication between the pump and tubefor changing the direction of the flow of air in the tube, and mechanismconnected with said 12 1 air-switch adapted to be moved into engagementwith said valve when the latter is closed and actuated by'the opening ofsaid valve to shift the air-switch to reverse the direction of the flowof air in the tube.

2. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction provided with an openingfor the discharge and insertion of carriers, a valve controlling saidopening, a pump communicating with said tube, a motor, for driving saidpump, an air-switch normally positioned in the communication between thepump and tube toopen the communication.

to the exhaust side of the (pump, and mecha-- nism adapted to be moveinto engagement with said valve when the latter is closed and actuatedby the opening of said valve to and controlling the opening of. saidtube adjacent the connection of said air-pump therewith, a motor adaptedtooperate 7 said air pump, means located at both ends of said stationsfor starting and stopping said motor, valve-locking means located at.

the station adjacent the air pump for locking said valve closed, andmechanism actuated by said valve-locking means for reversing thedirection of the air current in said tube for the transmission ofcarriers in either direction between said stat-ions.

4. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers,

stations located at either end of said tube,an

air pump connected with said tube at one of said stations, a motoradapted to operate said air pump, a valve normally closed andcontrolling the opening ofsaid tube adjacent the connection of said airpump therewith, air controlling means for normally permitting thetransmission of a carrier in one direction through said tube, mechanismadapted to lock said valve and to operate said air controlling means toreverse the current of air in said tube for the transmission of carriersin the opposite direction, and means located at both stations forstarting and stopping said motor. I

5. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction provided with an openingfor the discharge and insertion of carriers, a pump communicating withsaid tube, a motor for driving said pump, an air-switch normallypositioned in the communication between the pump and tube to open thetube to the exhaust side of the pump, a valve controlling said openingin the tube and operating to close the same through outsideairpressurewhile the tube is in communication with the exhaust side of the pump,and

mechanism adapted to be moved into engagement with said-valve when thelatter is closed and actuated by the opening of sald valve to shift saidair-switch to open to the pressure side of the pump the communicationbetween the pump and tube.

6. In 'a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers, a sub-station located atone end of sald tube,a central station located at the other end of said tube, an air pumpconnected with said tube at said central station and adapted to supply acurrent of air to said tube, a motor adapted to operate said air pump,means located at said stations for starting and stopping said motor, andmechanism controlling the connection of said air I pump with said tubeand adapted to reverse the direction of the current of air through saidtube for the transmission of carriers therethrough in either direction.

7. In a pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers, a sub-station located vat one end of saidtube, a central station located at the other end of said' tube, an airpump connected with said tube at said central station and adapted tosupply a current of air to said tube, a motor adapted to operate saidair pump, means. located at said stations for starting and stopping saidmotor, and mechanism controlling the connection of said air pump withsaid tube and adapted to be operated at the central station to reversethe direction of the current of air through said tube for thetransmission of carriers therethrough in either direction.

8. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers, a central station located at one end of saidtube, a sub-station located at the other end of said tube, an air pumpconnected with said tube at said'central station and'adapted to supplythe current of air to said tube, a motor adapted to operate saidair-pump, means at said stations for starting and stopping said motor, anor'mallyclosed valve located at said central station normallypermitting the transmission of a carrier from said substation to saidcentral station, and

locking means adapted to be operated at said central station for lockingsaid valve closed and reversing the current of air through said tubepermitting the transmission of a carrier from said central station tosaid sub.- station.

9. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers, a central station located at one end of saidtube, a sub-station located at the other end of said tube, an air pumpconnected with said tube at said central station and adapted to supply acurrent of air to said tube, a motor adapted to operate said air pump,means at said stations for starting carriers in either directionprovided at each the said'motor, a normally closed valve located at saidcentral station normally permitting the transmission of a carrier fromsaid'sub-station to said central station, lookingmeans adapted to beoperated at said central station for locking said valve closed andreversing the current of air through said tube and permitting thetransmission of a carrier from said central station to said sub station,and means located adjacent either of said stations adapted to beoperated by a carrier in transit thereto for automatically stopping saidmotor.

10. In pneumatic despatch tube appa-.

tus, the transmission of a single tube for carrlers "In either directionprovided with an opening for the discharge and insertion of carriers; apump communicating with said tube, a motor for driving said pump, anair-switch normally positioned in the communication between the pump andtube to open the tube to the exhaust side of the pump, a valvecontrolling said opening in the tube and operating to close the same.

through outside air-pressure while the tube is in, communication withthe exhaust side of the pump, locking mechanism for securing sald valveclosed on said opening, and

' means actuated by the closing movement of said locking mechanism toshift said airswitch to open the communication between the tube and thepressure side of the pump.

11. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tubefor thetransmission of of said locking mechanism to shift said air-switch toopen the communication between the tube and pump to the pressure side ofthe pump, and carrier-actuated means in the tube for releasing saidlocking mechanism and the'latter during its openin movement actuatingthe air-switch shifting means pump to the exhaust side of the pump.

12. In: pneumatic despatch tube apparat-us, a single tube for thetransmission of end-with an opening for the discharge and Iinsertion'otcarriers, a valve controlling the openinget one end of saidtube, a pump communicating with said tube at the end to turn the switchto open the communication between the tube and provided with thevalve-controlled opening, a motor for driving said pump, an airswitch inthe communication between the pump and tube for changing the direct-ionof the flow-of air in the tube, mechanism connected with said air-switchandactuated by the opening of said valve to shift the air-switch toreverse .the direction of the flow of air in the tube,-.and'meanslocated 4 adjacent to the carrier-discharge opening at the other end ofthe tube operating to con-; trol the opening of said valve.

13. In. pneumatic despatch tube apparat-us, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction provided at each end withan opening for the discharge and insertion of carriers, a valvecontrolling the opening at one end of said tube, a pump communicatingwith said tube at the end .provided with the valve-controlled opening,

a motor for driving said pump, an airswitch in the communication betweenthe pump and'tube for changing the direction of the flow of air in thetube, mechanism connected with said air-switch and actuated by theopening of said valve to shift the airswitch to reverse the directionofthe flow of air in the tube, and carrier actuated means in the otherend of said tube adjacent to the carrier-discharge opening thereinoperating to control the opening of said valve.

14. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction provided at each end withan opening for the discharge and insertion of carriers, a valvecontrolling the opening at one end of said tube, a pump communicatingwith said tube at the end provided with the valve-controlled opening, amotor for driving said pump, an airswi'tch normally positioned in thecommuni cation between the pump and tube to open the tube to the exhaustside of the pump, locking means for securingsaid valve closed, meansactuated by the closing movement of said locking mechanism to shift saidairswitch to open the communication between the tube and the pressureside of the pump, and means located' adjacent to the carrierdischargeopening at the other end of the tube operating to control the releasingof said locking mechanism.

15. In pneumatic despatch tube apparatus, a single tube for thetransmission of carriers in either direction provided at each end withan opening for the discharge and insertion of carriers, a valvecontrolling the opening at one end of said tube, a pump communicatingwith said tube at the end provided with the valve-controlled opening, amotor for driving said pump, an airswitch normally positioned in thecommunication between the pump and tube to open the tube to the exhaustside of the pump, 1 locking means forsecuring the valve closed,

means actuated by the closing movement of In testimony whereof, I havesigned my said locking mechanism to shift said airname to thisspecification in the presence of 10 switch to open the communicationbetween two subscribing witnesses, this eighteenth the tube and thepressure side of the pump, day of October A. D. 1906.

' and carrier-actuated means in the other end CHESTER S. JENNINGS.

of said tube adjacent to the carrier-dis- Witnesses: charge openingtherein operating to control A. R. LARRABEE,

the releasing of said locking mechanism. A. L. MESSER.

